#rivervale_lodge

To her surprise, a sidhe enters, "Apologies, Dame Kerri?"

A surprise indeed, and she stiffens. "Yes?" ((Male or Female sidhe?))

Male, and he bows, "I am Bancroft, in service to the Barony of teaneck. there was a party last night, and Siv left a part of her costume behind" He holds up a hat, "I thought it polite to return it." the lad seems all business. He appaears to be 18 winters, though it can be hard to gauge

"Oh! Sir, thank you. I understand she left in a bit of a rush. I'm sure she'll be grateful for its return. Would you like me to...I can call her down, and you can deliver it to her personally, to make sure she gets it."

"Thank you, and I'd be honored to meet her, but there's no need. The important thing is she gets it back. I do hope everything is well for her. I didn't attend the party myself save for my thane duties but I did notice her rush out. Perhaps she has low tolerance for fakes. I know I do." A shrug "As it stands, it's the least I could do for a woman who rushed, not from a party, but to the aid of those struck by floods in not just her own area but parts of Teaneck. Rivervale's reputation for heroines continues."

Kerri smiles. "Sir Bancroft, on behalf of Rivervale, I thank you for that...but I think it would mean a great deal to Siv if you would tell her that yourself. May I call her down for you?"

"Just Thane Banccroft, or Bancroft if you please. Thank you , and if you like. I'm afraid I don't know the protocoals at this lodge, not that my ignorance excuses poor manners so I defer to you in this, Dame Kerri"

Tove watches this with interest, but says nothing. She came from Thyle, where sidhe were not trusted, but while on guard, she's not showing any other signs of extreme distrust

"We tend to be fairly informal, Thane Bancroft. Please, come back to the main hall, and I will call her down. Oh, I apologize for my own poor manners...this is Tove."

"An honor" He says. He seems on the formal side.//"The same" Tove says mannerly.///Bancroft goes to the main hall as directed and waits. It is clear he has had thane training in waiting.

Kerri goes up the stairs, not too fast but not slowly either, and knocks on Siv's door. "Siv?"

Dagmar is flumped on a couch, half-hanging upside down over the edge and reading comic book.

Before going up, Kerri said, "Dagmar, this is Thane Bancroft. Manners, please."

Siv opens the door, "yeah?" Her hair's a bit of a tangle, she is wearingwhat's comfortable not what matches.

"Huh?" She sits up, disoriented for a moment. Then, spotting the sidhe. "...Oh."

"....hi..."

Kerri takes a look, and pushes her gently back inside. "A young Thane from Teaneck is here. You left your hat at the party, and he's returning it. Hold still...." She quickly adjusts Siv's hair so it's somewhat less rumpled, but leaves the clothes as they are. "There. Go."

"Hello." he says "I'm Thane Bancroft."

"What? Oh, I don't want the hat back, It's got naught but an embarrasing memory..." Protest

"........hi..." She stares.

"GO." Kerri doesn't yell, but she is emphatic, and gives Siv a little push towards the stairs.

...adding, "He came all this way to deliver it, and it would be rude not to accept it personally."

And down Siv goes "Fine fine..." grumbling "It's a hat, not the bloody treasure of Blackbeard..." but she sees the point of manners and clumps down the stairs (She is agile, but right now, what's the point?)

Bancroft's eyes seem tobe two different shades at once, "I hope I'm not intruding? " He seems stoic, but mannerly

Kerri follows behind her, and introduces, "Siv, this is Thane Bancroft of Teaneck. Dagmar, would you come with me to the kitchen, please? I have a task for you."

"Hunh? Okay..." Distracted.

Siv turns expecting a troll and...looks down a notch as there is no head..well, no troll head. that might have been a mistake, for while other Sidhe may look more handsome than Bancroft, he's ..he's still right lovely to gaze upon. Siv is caught off guard, "You...thane, me Siv?" A choke as she realizes what she just said "I mean, you wanted to see me, Thane?"

"Excuse us, please." Kerri ushers Dagmar with her into the kitchen, grinning as they get behind the door. "Right. Good. Platter...pastries..." She starts preparing a little hospitality tray.

Dag seems to recover a little once away from the thane. "Why's he here?" She holds the platter out.

"He...is returning...Siv's hat." Kerri grins as she arranges things nicely on the tray. "And he had very nice things to say about her, so I thought she should hear them directly. Now, Dagmar, go back out, put the tray down on a table, and come back here, please. We'll give them a few minutes to talk privately."

She nods, and tromps out with the tray. Amber eyes watch the sidhe the whole way, and she nearly tumbles over an end-table.

Luckily, it's mostly a hip-check instead. Tray down, and then BACK to the kitchen.

Bancroft nods to the departing Kerri and Dagmar "Of course, nnothing to excuse." Then to Siv, "You were at the party last night..."/Siv winces "Yes, I.. suppose I should apologize for leaving so soon I wasn't feeling well..." Which IS true.//"I wouldn't have stuck around myselfi f not for my duty as Thane. Mos of them were just looking for an excuse to preen, all feathers, no talons. You being an exception, of course."//"Me?" She says then, cautiously "How so?"//"I work in Teaneck." he says "You helped some people in the teaneck area. "///"I did?" She blinks//" "The flood"/"Oh, well, I'd have helped anyone" She flusters, "Twas nothing..."//"I fail to see how your heroism applying to many makes it less admirable," He says plainly, "You helped the people of my lord's fief. You do not Just look lovely as some do. You DID, you acted. And I .." he suddenly seems unsure where to go "I find that admirable." he says getting back to the point, "So, your hat?" he offers it.

When Dagmar comes back in, Kerri pats her on the shoulder. "Good job. Now...were they talking, or just staring at each other?"

"Talking about some place called Teaneck?"

"Yes, a barony not far from here. Tove, would you fetch a pitcher of lemonade from the fridge?" She herself is taking down some glasses from cabinets.

they see the tray almost too late, Bancroft says "Oh. The Hearth shouldn't have. I only dropped by to ..."/"Return me hat," Siv says "I know but it's done now, please, join me for a bite then? She might be offended otherwise, thane."/He looks alarmed at offending anyone "I certainly didn't mean to do that"//"Also, she makes fine pastries. Tis good the Rover walks so much or he'd be unable to fit through doors"//"I..ah, yes. You're.. very, you're more relaxed than most trolls I know."//Siv smiles "I'll take it as a compliment I guess?" Sitting, and fussing ith her hair "Oh, too relaxed Ifear. I'm a mess."//"Hardly. This is your home. And no one was expecting guests." he tries a pastry, and his stoic facade crumbles, "This is great." //Siv beams "Told you. I can't cookk like this on me best day. I mean, I won't starve, but there you have it. Now, you were saying I'm more relaxed than most trolls yo've met? Can I say I've never met a Sidhe Thane afore?"

Dagmar spies from the cracked doorway. "They're eating"

"Good," Kerri nods. "They'll be wanting the lemonade in about thirty seconds or so. Are they still talking?"

"Looks it."

Kerri grins. "Well...hopefully he told her what he said to me, at least."

"Oh, there's a story in that" he says "But I don't talk about it often" He shrugs "And you , are you under the Hearth, Storm, or Mountain areas. I know each position is filled, but don't trolls divide their work so under them?"/// Siv looks impressed, "Not every sidhe bothers to learn that. Actually it varies. Here were' a bit more loose about it. Gives folks a chance to appreciate each other and learn our own way. Some lodges it's more rigid, but me mum, the Chief that is, is knows better than that. She keeps it flowing more like a river and sees where we run, but makes sure we never jump wild either. "

"mmm" he says "Everyone talks of your mother's courage in battle and heroism, they don't mention her wisdom as much. Do you have that too?" //Siv blushes "Oh no. Mom's a planner and a doer both. I'm... well, I leap before I look too often. Drives ma and da nuts, poor lambs."//he smiles "i'm more the bide my time sort. I don't like surprises."//"Everyone likes surprises"

"Not me," Bancroft says "Surprises means something has gotten by me, and I've failed someone who was counting on me to keep watch."//"That's..." She eyes him, blushes, but then ask anyway "Are you sure you're not a troll?"//"It would be an honor to be be one, but yes, I'm very sure I'm not a troll" he says , and then dead pan "I have no trouble finding hats my size"

Dagmar may not hear all that, but she can tell Siv is laughing.

"He made her laugh!" A report to the kitchen!

And indeed, they seem to be talking (And snacking)

(pause scene)

Kerri grins widely, then puts on a more neutral expression. "And, cue the lemonade. Dagmar, you can come back in or not, whichever you're more comfortable with. Tove?"

"Aye?" Tove says, she seems a bit amussed by the Hearth